Sunderland ‘monitor’ Christ Inao Oulaï as Arne Engels ‘to decide’ future | OneFootball

Sunderland are exploring midfield options, with Christ Inao Oulaï linked and Arne Engels weighing up his future. They are building for the Europa League after a seventh-place finish under Regis Le Bris in their first season back in the Premier League.

225Foot reports that the Black Cats are monitoring Trabzonspor midfielder Oulaï after his eye-catching debut campaign in Türkiye's Super Lig. Sunderland are said to face competition from Fulham and Brentford for the Ivory Coast international.

The 20-year-old posted two goals and four assists in 31 outings as Trabzon finished third behind Galatasaray and Fenerbahce. He is in Ivory Coast's World Cup finals squad and could win his 12th cap against Curacao in their final group-stage game on Thursday night.

The Daily Record claims Sunderland have been credited with interest in Celtic and Belgium playmaker Engels, who has changed agents and told the champions he will make a firm decision before pre-season.

Engels joined from German club Augsberg in 2024 for about £11m, scoring 17 goals and supplying 21 assists in 98 appearances. He has won two Premiership titles plus the Scottish Cup and League Cup. Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Sunderland are among admirers, with Napoli, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund also said to have monitored the four-cap international.

Source: Sunderland Echo